


/??? 



Hollinger Corp. 
pH8.5 



LC 6301 
.U5 S5 
Copy 1 






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DniversitY and Sctieel Bxtensien. 



GEOLOGY. 



N. S. SHALER, 

1889. 

Harvard University. 



Press of J, J. Little & Co. 
Astor Place, New York. 



CO 






Copyright, 

1889, 

By N. S. SHALER. 



Course in Geology. 

The aim of the instruction in this department is to give the 
students a training in the elements of geologic science, by means of 
text-books and monographs, combined with instruction of a practical 
sort in the laboratory and field. It is proposed to divide the work 
into two courses. In one, the student will follow an assigned plan 
of reading, at the same time pursuing such field observations as may 
be convenient for him to follow. In the second course the student 
is expected to attend the Harvard Summer School of Geology, 
taught in Cambridge, Mass., in the period from about July loth to 
August loth. He will be expected at least to attend, for the first 
two weeks of this, lecture, laboratory, and field instruction. The 
present circular concerns the work in the first mentioned of these 
courses. It is desirable that students who take up the subject of 
geology in the University and School Extension system should, 
where possible, resort to the Summer School after pursuing the 
designated course in reading and field observation. 

In the first year of the work in this course, the instruction will 
be limited to the phenomena of dynamic geology. The student is 
advised to pursue the following reading. He may advantageously 
begin his task with Prof. James D. Dana's New Text Book of Geol- 
ogy. In this work he should read the whole of the text up to and 
including the 30th page, preparing himself to pass an examination 
on the matter. Great care should be taken to obtain a clear idea 



UNIVERSITY AND SCHOOL EXTENSION. 



of all the points which are the subject of definitions. In addition 
to the book above mentioned, the student may advantageously read 
Shaler's First Book in Geology (D. C. Heath & Co.), 2nd edition, 
taking the whole of the text. It is advisable to obtain the teacher's 
edition, which has an appendix containing directions as to field work. 
At any rate, if Dana's text book is read, it will be well to read the 
directions to teachers in the aforesaid appendix. 

After completing this task, the student, if he has the time, may 
advantageously take Dana's Manual of Geology, following the large 
print of that text, up to and including the 113th page ; then passing to 
the 605th page, and likewise following the coarse print from that point 
to the 831st page. It is not deemed necessary that the student should 
undertake the study of Dana's Manual in the manner proposed. If 
he has an opportunity, after using the first two works named, it will be 
well for him to devote the principal part of his time to field observa- 
tions. In case the field observations are not possible, then the read- 
ing should be extended to Dana's Manual. Students who apply for 
examination will kindly designate the extent of their reading. 

As soon as possible after beginning his reading the student should 
undertake to observe geological phenomena of some limited field. 
Possessing himself of a copy of the best map which can be obtained, 
delineating an area of from five to twenty miles in extent, he may well 
undertake first to study the distribution of the soil or other detrital 
deposits within the field, depicting the facts by coloring placed on 
the map and setting forth the observations in a note-book. If the 



COURSE IN GEOLOGY. 5 

district in which the area selected for study occurs be within the 
limits of glacial action, it will be well to trace the glacial scratches, 
if any occur, noting their compass course, also the direction in which 
the debris has been conveyed, whether it is stratified or not, whether 
it be of sand or clay, or the measure of mixture in the materials. 
At this point it will be well for the student to read the various essays 
of Prof. T. C. Chamberlin contained in the Annual Reports of the 
Director of the U. S. Geological Survey. These reports can be 
found in any public library, or can be secured by such libraries on 
application through the member of Congress of the district. It is 
not worth while for individual students to seek for copies by appli- 
cation in Washington. Chamberlin's treatises may be supplemented 
by reading Geikie's Great Ice Age, or Shaler & Davis's Illustration 
of the Earth's Surface, part first. Geology, R. Osgood & Co., Bos- 
ton, in which a fair account of American glacial phenomena can be 
obtained. 

In the study of his field, the student should pay close attention to 
the topography of the district. He should bear in mind the fact that 
every feature of hill or dale is due to the history of the field, in part 
to the structure of the under-rocks, and in part to the erosive agents 
acting through the sea, rain, rivers and glaciers. For some months 
the student had best limit his attention to these phenomena of sur- 
face geology without undertaking to study the underlying rocks. 
When he finds that he has gained a clear conception as to the form 
of the surface which is the subject of his inquiry, he should confirm 
his knowledge by drawing from memory a somewhat detailed map of 



UNIVERSITY AND SCHOOL EXTENSION. 



the area. He may then proceed to inquiries concerning the under- 
lying rocks. 

The first step in this second stage of work on a given field should 
consist in an effort to determine the character and attitude of dif- 
ferent kinds of rocks which are found within it. For this purpose a 
second map of the area should be taken, the first being devoted 
entirely to surface geology, and on this latter sheet the strikes and 
dips as well as the limits of the different rocks should be indicated 
by appropriate signs. In case several kinds of rocks are exhibited 
within the same field, the circumstances of contact between the 
deposits should be studied with all possible care. 

Where the student dwells near the shore, a portion of his field 
should, if possible, include a section of shore-line. Where he dwells 
in the interior, the area selected should include the path of a con- 
siderable stream, in order that he may observe the nature of the 
water work. 

Although the area occupied by a city is not a favorable ground 
for geological study, it must not be regarded as totally unfit for such 
work. It is true a large part of the surface is hidden from view, 
but occasional sections made in the excavation of cellars afford on 
the whole better opportunities for seeing the understructure than are 
obtainable in most country districts. In case the student has not 
an opportunity to work in the country, he may well take up his field 
studies within the town. He may find an opportunity for certain 



COURSE IN GEOLOGY. 



classes of inquiries in such areas which are of peculiar interest. 
Thus the effect of soil upon drainage, and consequently on the 
health of the population, can be advantageously studied in the limits 
of great towns. Moreover, in such towns there is a great range of 
building materials, and the effect of the action of the weather on such 
materials affords an interesting field of inquiry. Thus a student may 
train himself in observation, and make, indeed, a valuable contribution 
to economic geology, by a careful study of the building materials, 
bricks, mortar, as well as natural stones, which are used in any of our 
great cities. 

It seems well to warn the student that in beginning his field 
work he is apt to encounter much discouragement from the appar- 
ently blind nature of his work. For a while his inquiries will appear 
purposeless. Gradually, however, as he gathers knowledge of the 
area which he is studying, his information will insensibly organize 
itself in his mind. In the course of a few months, understanding will 
take the place of doubt. In the process of this work, the student 
will do well at first to trust entirely to his own observations, and not 
to seek the aid of treatises which discuss the conditions of the field 
until, from his own study, he is prepared to have an individual 
opinion on the subject. He may then advantageously seek to learn 
all that others have said concerning the subject matter of his 
inquiry. 

Although the student may, if he be willing to devote himself to the 
subject, advantageously begin the study of geology alone, with no 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



8 UNIVERSITY AND SCHOOL EXTEN l|||||||||||||||||i||i|||^ 

029 944 931 2 

help from a teacher beyond that which may be obtained by prmtea 
matter or correspondence, it will be well if, at the end of a few 
months after he has undergone the difficulties of field inquiry, he 
should for a few weeks receive the advice and instruction of compe- 
tent teachers. A large part of geological science, as well as of all 
other branches of practical learning, consists of traditions based on 
experience of innumerable field workers — traditions which the begin- 
ner will do well to acquire. Therefore the student is advised during 
the summer season, for a period of from two to six weeks, to attend 
a summer school of geology, wherein he may make acquaintance 
with these technical details, and also have an opportunity of study- 
ing a field along with experienced field workers. He will then be 
ready to return to his individual inquiries much strengthened by 
his contact with men who make geology a profession. 



MRRARY OF CONGRESS 

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